Garment-supporter



(No Model.)

W. H. RALPH.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

Nb. 493,648. I Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

WITNESSES: llVl/E/VTOI? wz l. H M

ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS co; womu'mo,v WASHINGTON, u. c.

' an arc of about a quadrant.

UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. RALPH, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,648, dated March 21, 1893. Application filed August 5, 1891. Serial No. 401,730- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. RALPH, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to garment supporters for ladies wear.

The object of the invention is to producea garment supporter having a belt or girdle cut to a form to fit the waist of the wearer; also to attach to said belt or girdle, or the tabs thereof, at the sides of the hips of the wearer, suspensory tapes which pass beside the hips of the wearer, and are joined below to the stocking supporter; also to attach suitable bandage suspensory devices to said girdle, which shall be removable, and leave the girdle to act as a stocking supporter alone.

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the garment supporter complete. Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the girdle and upper parts of the suspensory devices. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the girdle and the braces to which the stocking supporter is attached, in

dicating generally the pattern by which the girdle is cut. Fig. 4 is a detail of the bandage supporter.

The letter A indicates the belt or bodice. Thisis cut, preferably in two pieces or halves A A, from an inelastic or Very slightly elastic fabric, on the general pattern indicated in Fig. 3. The halves or bodice sections are cut so that the upper edge of each section is The lower edge has three curved lines of nearly a half circle each. Tabs extend downward from each end of each section, and two tabs on each section intervene between these end tabs. The two halves when joined as along the line 0 will fit the female waist neatly, the front and rear tabs 13 B extending outward and downward over the curves of the body below the waist, and the tabs 0 0' extending alongside the hips of the wearer. Of course the various sizes will conform generally to different sized people, and the opposite sides of the girdle will be similar. The girdle may be cut from a single piece of fabric, but for economy, and to secure greater firmness, it is better to cut the girdle in halves, or it might be in a great number of pieces. A tape or band D is connected to tab 0, and atape D to the tab 0', preferably by stitching.

The tapes D D are joined together at an angle, a few inches below the tabs on the girdle, and a tape or band E extends downward from the junction. The stocking supporters F F, of usual construction, are attached to these tapes E by any usual form of catch or buckle.

The tapes D D connected to the tabs 0 O fit easily over and conform to the person of the wearer, without unnecessary strain in any direction. (A somewhat similar arrangement of tapes or cords has been attached to a straight belt, for a like purpose, but without attaining the ease of fitof my device, wherein the tabs extend in curved lines from the body of the girdle, the girdle itself being cut on curved lines.)

The halves of the girdle are sewed together at the back, and preferably buttoned in front, or vice versa.

To the front tab B, on one of the halves of the girdle, and to the rear tab B, a short tape H is sewed, or the tab itself may be somewhat extended. An elastic piece I having a safety pin or hook K at one end, and a buckle L at the other end, may be buckled to the tape or tab H, for use with abandage or napkin. When not needed by the wearer, these elastic supports and their pins and buckles maybe entirely removed from the girdle, and the girdle or belt will then be practically free from any such attachment, and only the stocking supporter will remain.

The elastic strip I and the buckle and safety clasp are easily adjusted, and are as little obj ectionable as such a support can Well be.

The device as a whole is easy and comfortable, and conforms to the person of the wearer, and is not excessively expensive in construction.

What I claim is The garment supporter consisting of a belt or bodice composed of two joined sections of inelastic fabric each section having its upper edge curved so that the upper edge of the to said front and rear tabs, all substantially joined sections forms a continuous are, each as described. o section having pendent tabs from its lower In testimony whereofIaffix my signaturein edge (to lie at the sides of the hips of a Wearpresence of two witnesses.

5 er,) and having stocking supports attached WILLIAM H. RALPH.

thereto as described,the bodice having pend- Witnesses: ent tabs at front and rear, and detachable W. A. BARTLETT, elastic stripshaving safety catches connected PHILIP F. LARNER. 

